Natural products are privileged structures in terms of structural diversity and bioactivity. Although the biosynthetic routes towards many bioactive ‘secondary metabolites’ have been elucidated, the reason(s) for their production in natural environment is often elusive. We are interested in deciphering biosynthetic strategies in order to use these strategies for biomimetic access towards putative bioactive compounds. This approach is exemplified by the polyketide and shikimate biosynthetic routes resulting in diversity-oriented production of novel chrial building blocks.